High-frequency tuner



July 21, 1953 R. F. ROMERO HIGH-FREQUENCY TUNER s Smets-sheet 1 Filed March l5, 194'? July 21, 1953 R. F. ROMERO 2,646,500

HIGH-FREQUENCY TUNER Filed March l5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

ATTORN EY July 21, 1953 R. F. ROMERO HIGH-FREQUENCY TUNER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March l5, 1947 l .fl/11A v1 l l lill/lll i INVENTOR bcrZJ/Iamem ATTORN EY Patented July 21, 1953 HIGH-FREQUENCY TUNER.

Robert F. Romero, Cos Cob, Conn., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application March 15, 1947, Serial No. 735,003

(Cl. Z50-20) 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to high frequency wave transmission and tuning arrangements and, more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to novel wave transmission and tuning apparatus and tuning controls for such apparatus. The present invention, in one of its aspects, involves a novel transmission line termination and a closely associated amplifier. The invention also is concerned with a novel high frequency tuner of the multiple step or station type which operates single ended from a balanced input. The balanced input just mentioned is preferably obtained by the novel Wave transmission arrangement of this invention. The single ended or unbalanced arrangement considerably simplifies the construction of a tuner embodying the invention and enables the use of compound coupling ln a novel manner to improve the image rejection. Tuning may be accomplished by a rotary switch. The single ended or unbalanced construction is valuable since it minimizes the number of rotary switching sections, or wafers relquired in the rotary switch.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel antenna input circuit closely associated with a novel high frequency tuner.

I Another object is to provide a stage of amplifica-tion having a novel'inpui',` arrangement for terminating a high frequency transmission line.

A further object is to Iprovide a novel high frequency tuner of single ended construction.

Still another object is to provide tunable inductance, elements which are novel in character.

A still further object is to provide a novel arrangement of elements in a tuner for minimizing the interfering effects other than the desired signal.

A still further object is to provide a novel inductor having either a positive or a negative temperature coecient.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a schematic circuit diagram of the novel tuner of the invention designed to operate as a superheterodyne receiver;

Fig. 2 shows details of a novel inductance element constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view in cross-section showing an oscillator coil constructed in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a modified tuner embodying the invention.

Referring for the present to Fig. l of the drawings, which shows the electrical features of an embodiment of the tuner selected for illustratine the invention, twill be ...Seen that R. F. (radio frequency) amplifier I0, oscillator l2 and mixer I4 of a superheterodyne'receiver are shown schematically. The tuner selected as an illustrative embodiment of the invention provides for the selection of predetermined radio fre* quency signals transmitted, for instance, over' signal channels ranging from 44 mc. (mega-cycles) to 216 mc. While the tuner may be designed to respond to a greater or lesser number of channels that shown is designed for il such channels. 'Ihese gures are given solely by way of example, since it will be understood that, while the tuner of the illustrative embodiment is designed for these high frequencies, yet numerous features or" the invention are equally applicable in tuners operating in a higher or a lower frequency range. Moreover, while a superheterodyne type of receiver has been referred to in the brief description so far given in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawings, there are features present therein to be pointed out hereinafter, which are an important part of applicants invention and which may be used in variable irnpedance devices generally, testing instruments, andthe like.

Before a detailed description of the tuner is given, novel features of the termination of the antenna transmission line it and the coupling to the R. F. ampliiier stage lli of the invention will be described. The simplified unbalanced or single ended construction of the ltunable circuit employed for the oscillator E2 and the mixer i4 requires a special antenna input circuit which is provided by the R. F. amplifier lil and its input circuit. A tuned antenna transformer with its increased complexity is not needed. v

The R. F. amplier i@ terminates the antenna ,transmission line iS properly without the use of a resistor. This phase of the invention concerned with the ampliiier depends primarily upon the transconductance value of the tube used withthe ampliiier circuits. On the input side, balance is presented to ground. The plate circuit of the R. F. tube is single ended. Oscillator radiation is minimized so that interference with other apparatus, such as television receivers, is avoided or is reduced to acceptable limits. Considering the input circuit of the amplifier stage, terminals i3 are shown to which the antenna transmission line is to be connected. Coupling condensers lil serve to connect the terminals i8, and hence the transmission line to the grid 2| and cathode 22 of a tube 24, which is the amplifying device of the stage l0. It is to be noted that the grid 2 IY does not have any control bias supplied thereto since such bias may have some effect on input impedance on the tube. When the termination of the system is not determined by the tuner, or in other circumstances, control bias may be applied to the grid 2 I. A center tapped coil 25, preferably wound with small wire on an iron core in order to attain high coupling between either half of the coil, is connected across the leads from the condensers 9 and hence across the antenna terminals i8. The inductance of this coil and the grid to cathode capacitance of the tube 24 provide a circuit which is resonant Within the signal frequency region or band. When the grid to ground and cathode to ground capacita-noos of the tube are equal they cancel undesired currents which are unbalanced with respect to ground.

It will be noted that the suppressor grid 28 of the tube is connected externally of the tube to ground. This minimizes feed-back of oscillator energy to the antenna via the large platesuppressor capacity. Suitable tubes are the GBAG or 6AU6 types. In order to minimize the effect of input loading due to transit time on the transmission line termination a degenerative resistance 29 is included in the cathode circuit. Transconductance may vary somewhat in production tubes and this objection is overcome in a practical and useful manner by the use of cathode degeneration which tends to stabilize the transconduct- The previously mentioned center tapped coil 2E rejects unbalanced undesired currents by presenting a low impedance to ground to such currents and provides a D. C. (direct current) return path for the cathode current. The coil resonates with the input tube capacity as mentioned above at a point which is the geometric mean frequency between signal frequency bands receivable in the lower frequency range setting of the tuner. Solely by way of example, if the tuner of this invention is designed, as above stated, for the selection of 11 radio frequency signals or channels in the range given, the resonant point is the geometric frequency between 44 mc. to approximately 88 mc. On the present frequency assignment these are designated channels one and six.

In the illustrative arrangement of Fig. 1 a rotary channel selecting switch 30 is shown by way of example and, because of its availability, a standard 12-position wave-change switch is shown schematically. It will be understood, however, that while the illustrative arrangement allows selection of any eleven of the presently available thirteen television channels, provision may be made for receiving a greater or less number than eleven within the scope of the invention as stated previously.

A resistor 3l may be shunted across the coil 25 to provide a lower effective terminating impedance if required.

Before describing and discussing the frequency selective network which is controlled in the illustrative embodiment by the rotary switch 30, the circuits of the mixer I4 will be described. The mixer comprises a tube 33 which is preferably a pentode type as shown. A suitable type of tube is the 6AG5, for example. Grid-leak biasing for this tube is employed which is provided by a gridleak resistor 36. A series dropping resistor 33 for the screen is employed. Grid-leak biasing and the series dropping resistor for the screen are used because of the self-regulating characteristics which result in the Gc (conversion transconductance) being less critical to the amplitude of the injected oscillator voltage. The cathode 39 is returned to ground through a resistor 4l bypassed by a condenser d3 rather than being directly grounded to protect the tube in the event of failure of the local oscillator. If the cathode resistor 44 is not ley-passed, the overall gain is 4 reduced because of the degenerative effect of the resistor on the I. F. (intermediate frequency) signal and the lowered GC caused by reduction in peak Gm obtainable at the positive peak of the local oscillator injected voltage.

The oscillator l2 is a simple Colpitts oscillator employing a triode tube ll with its grid 48 grounded through a resistor GS by-passed by a condenser 5i. The cathode 5S of the tube is isolated by a choke 54, one end of which is connected to ground. The heater of the tube is isolated by a bilar choke 55.

With an intermediate frequency selected for example in the range between 21.25 and 21.75 mc. for television sound, the local oscillator frequency would be varied from 71.0 mc. to 71.5 mc. for channel one to the range between 109.0 and 109.5 mc. for channel six, and in the range from 201.0 to 201.5 mc. for channel seven to the lrange between 237.0 and 237.5 mc. for Channel thirteen.

Each channel to which the tuner may be set by the means yet to be described has a separate adjustable oscillator inductance, these inductances being designated 6l to 7. For the lower six channels, the inductances 6i to '56 may comprise an enameled wire coil which is close wound on a form. These coils may be tuned by a movable plunger of brass, for example, or iron or comminuted iron. Fig. 3 to be described in detail shows the preferred form of the inductances 6l to 555. For the upper five channels in the illustrative embodiment, adjustable inductances 0l to 'H are of the type shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings which will bc described more in detail in connection with the description of the several frequency selective networks.

The mounting for the stationary contacts 6G of the switch section S5 of the rotary switch 30 is preferably of ceramic material and may be of wafer form which is usual in the ordinary bandselector or wave change switches of radio receivers. Ceramic materia-l improves frequency stability. The mountings for the contacts of the sections Si to may be of Bakelite. Vernier tuning is accomplished by a variable air condenser 73.

The previously mentioned wave-change switch 30 has a positive temperature coeiiicient of both capacitance and inductance. It is, therefore, desirable and perhaps necessary to compensate by the use of negative-coefficient condensers. The various condensers associated with the oscillator' circuit each has a negative temperature coefficient. Referring to Fig. 3 showing one of the inductances 'i to ii, it is seen to comprise a coil form 76 around which the inductance in the form of wire coil 78 is wound. A tuning slug or body of metal in the form of a brass, for example, core 3l is carried by an adjusting screw B2 which may be of steel. A metallic mounting plate 3S receives the externally threaded boss 84 of a nut 00 in threaded engagement. rlhe screw is received adjustably in an internally threaded hole in the nut 86. The mounting plate S3 may be any portion of the tuner structure (not shown in detail for the sake of simplicity of illustration), but its location is indicated schematically in 1 of the drawings.

The oscillator inductances Si to 68 for the low frequency channels can be made with either a positive or negative temperature coefficient as is evident from Fig. 3. If the coil form 'E5 has a high thermal expansion coefficient relative to the mounting screw 82, the coil 'I8 moves toward the core 8| during heating, tendingto reduce the coil inductance. A plastic coil from 16 with a high coefficient of thermal expansion and a steel screw 82 to support the slug 6| is an example of a workable arrangement where the coils associated with the oscillator circuit each can be made with a negative temperature4 coeiiicient as stated above. Polystyrene or cellulose acetate butyrate may be used for the form 16 where a negative temperature coeicient is desirable. The wire size and distance of the coil 18 from the mounting plate 03 are both factors in determining the amount of compensation which is present.

The frequency selective circuits and the manner in which they operate in conjunction with the R. F. amplifier I0, the oscillator I2 and the mixer I4 will now be described. The tuner assembly, the essential parts of which are shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are mounted on or in any suitable chasis (not shown). The channel selecting switch 30, as stated previously, vis shown only schematically for the sake of convenience of illustration since it is a standard readily available item. In its usual form it is used as a band selector switch in all wave radio sound receivers to change from the broadcast band to the short wave bands. It comprises a shaft 81, indicated schematically, which is of suitable length to carry a series of rotary contact groupings in the form of rotary switches marked Si, S2, `S3 S4, and S5. Switches S1, S3 and S5 are substantially identical and in their simplest form, as shown, comprise a conductive portion 88 suitably insulated from the shaft 86. Each conductive portion is provided with a contact 89 which connects successively with terminals 90 for the stationary rotary switch contacts. The stationary contacts of the several switch sections Si to S5 will be designated by reference characters hereinafter. The switches S2 and S4 are so arranged as to maintain a short circuit on a set of lower frequency inductors 9| to 96 for the R. F. amplifier |0 and a set of lower frequency inductors to |06 for the mixer |4, respectively, when the rotary switch is set to select one of the higher frequency channels.

A feature of the invention is that the number of tuned R. F. circuits is limited to two. Tuning capacity is restricted to tube, wiring and switch capacities. The anode |08 of the tube.24

is coupled to the rotary contact 89 through a condenser |09. There is an end inductance consisting of switch, wiring, and tube inductance.

The oscillator output is coupled to the mixer grid ||6 by a condenser |I4. The anode ||2 of the oscillator tube 46 is connected by a condenser I to the movable contact v| |1 of the switch section S5.

A tuning network for the mixergrid is controlled by the portion Se of the rotary switch 30, and it is coupled to the conductive member ||8 of this switch section through a condenser 12|. Inductance |22 is an end inductance. A resistor |24 provides damping for the low frequency channeds when they are selected in accordance with the switch position. The coupling for the high frequency channels'between the R. F. and mixer grid circuit is provided by a condenser I 26.

The high frequency tuning inductances |3| to for the R. F. stage and |4| to |45 for the mixer are similar to the inductances 61 to 1| previously mentioned in describing the oscillator used with the tuner of this invention. These inductances as shown by Fig. 2 comprise a wire or rod |48, generally of hair-pin shape.

One end may be soldered, for example, or otherwise conductively secured to a ground plate |49 which also appears in Fig. 1 of the drawings. 'I'he remaining end of the wire |48 is soldered directly to the corresponding switch terminals 90 as shown schematically in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This same connection is made for each of the inductances 61 to 1|, |3| to |35, and |4| to |45 for their respective switch sections S5, Si, and S3. The stationary contacts for the switch sections Si and S3 are designated |52 and |53. Tuning of the inductances is provided by a slideable bar |55 which is apertured to receive both legs of the inductance |48. The rotary portion of the switch section, which may be the switch section 88 of Fig. 1, is shown fragmentary as cooperating with two contacts connected .to terminals 90.

An inductance |50 is arranged to be bridge across the coil 26 when the tuner is set to be responsive to the higher frequency channels receivablewith the inductors 3| to |35. A switch comprising a stationary contact |5| and a movable contact |46 is to be closed when a high frequency channel is to be received. The contact |46 may be controlled by the switch 30 for convenience.

The inductances 9| to 66 and |0| to |06 for the lower frequency channels of the R. F. amplifier |0 and the mixer 4, respectively, are arranged to provide compound coupling. For example, the inductors 9| and |0| are magnetically coupled, and the coupling provided by the. condenser |26 opposes that provided by the magnetic iield so that the image frequency there is substantially to coupling.

The switch sections S2 and S4 as previously stated short circuit the inductors 9| and 96 and |0| to |06 when a station allocated to a higher frequency channel is being received. As shown schematically, the movable conductive section or contact |50 and |5| of each of these switches is provided with a notch |56 to permit the selected lower frequency inductance in each case to be active.

A suitable source of positive D. C`. voltage (not shown) is connected to a terminal indicated schematically at |51 to provide certain electrodes of the tubes with the usual B supply.

From the foregoing it is believed that operation of the tuner Fig. 1 will be apparent. As stated previously, reception of eleven channels is provided by a selection of the position of the switch 30. For example, the inductor |34 may be set by moving its bar |55 to receive assigned channel eleven or channel thirteen and inductor |35 may be adjusted to receive assigned channel 9.

Fig. 4 of the drawings shows a modification of the tuner of Fig. 1 which employs numerous features of the arrangement of Fig. 1. Circuit elements of parts shown by Fig. 4, which are common to Fig. 1, will be designated by the same reference character with the suliix a. rEhe R. F. amplier Ilia and the mixer ma are substantially like those shown in Fig. l of the drawings. YTheoscillator |58 is of the balanced type' R. F. stage IUaand the mixer |4a. l

The B supply for the R. F. amplifier tube 24a is provided in series with the tuning inductances. This is obtained from a Suitable D. C. voltage source (not shown) connected to the point |59.

A rotary switch, indicated in its entirety by reference character |60, comprises four switch sections Si, S2, Ss and Si and is similar to the switch 30 of Fig. 1. The switch section Si comprises a rotary conductive member I9! and a series of stationary contacts |92. In the arrangement shown by way of example, reception of eight channels or stations for a given setting of a tuning inductor |93 is possible. The tuning inductor |63 is preferably similar to the invductor previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and is connected to the anode |98a of the R. F. amplifier tube 24a. A series or" step inductors E63 to lf iS rovided for tuning the highest frequency channels. The inductors |95 to |01 may consist of stampings of appropriate width between adjacent switch contacts |92.

A series of wound inductances in the form of coils to |74 is provided for tuning the lower frequency channels. The terminal 59 for the previously mentioned D. C. Source (not shown) is effectively connected through a dropping resistor |79 to the switch rotary conductive member 16|.

The grid I |6a of the mixer tube 330; is tuned by the switch section Sz. This switch section is similar to the section Si and comprises a switch rotor |84 provided with a switch point |86. This switch point vcooperates with a series of stationary switch contacts |83. For purposes of accomplishing the tuning referred to, the grid Ha is connected to the switch point |88 at the highest frequency tuning position of the switch through an inductor 92, which also may be similar to the inductor of Fig. 2 of the drawings. Inductors |93 to |95 serve to tune the high frequency channels and may be in the form of metallic strips similar to the inductors |65 to 07. The lower frequency channels are tuned by the inductances |96 to |99. A coupling condenser |26@ performs the same function as the coupling condenser |25 of Fig. 1.

The local oscillator shown in Fig. 1 may be used with the circuit shown in Fig. 4 as Well and i in the reverse order. It is a balanced push-pull oscillator and may employ a dual triode for eX- ample, a type 6J6 tube. Tuning is done with powdered iron inductances for all of the channels served by the tuner. thirteen assigned channels are available.

The injected voltage is taken from one plate 292 of the oscillator tube 204 while the trimmer condenser 206 is connected to ground from the other plate 208.

In order to tune to the even-numbered presently assigned high-frequency channels it is necessary to increase only the inductances of coils |63 and |92. Thus the inductances of |65 to |91 and |93 to |95 need not be adjustable. The coil sets to |74 and |99 to |99 are core tuned and magnetically coupled for a desired band width. A mc. band width is presently desirable for tele vision applications. Except for certain combinations, these are tunable to adjacent channels, but must be adjusted individually. For some combinations, it may be necessary to add capacity across one or more coils. For this reason, it may be desirable to put in six or more of theV lower In the illustrative example, y

8 channels which are receivable, thus' employing the blank switch positions.

This type of switching has the advantage that all the unused coils are short circuited so that there is no possibility of their acting as resonant traps to the signal or oscillator frequency.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is the following:

1. In a high frequency system, a transmission line, means to supply signals to said transmission line, a vacuum tube comprising a cathode, an anode and a control grid, one leg of said transmission line being connected to said control grid, the other leg of Said transmission line being con nected to said cathode, said last named connection including a resistor, means comprising an inductance separate from said rst named means for connecting both legs of said transmission line to a common voltage reference point in said system in balanced relationship, and an output connection from said anode which is unbalanced with respect to said voltage point.

2. A high frequency tuner comprising a radio frequency amplifier having input terminals, means for tuning said amplier comprising a plurality of separate inductors and a switch for selecting individual. inductors, a transmission line connected to the input terminals of said amplier in balanced reiationship with respect to a voltage reference point, an output connection from said amplifier including said tuning means, said output connection being connected to said switch, and a condenser betweensaid switch and'said amplier.

8. A high frequency tuner comprising a radio frequency amplier having input terminals, means for tuning said ampliiier comprising a plurality of separate inductors, an adjustable inductance, said separate inductors and said adjustable inductance being connected in series, a switch for selecting one or more of said separate inductors in series relationship, a transmission line connected to the input terminals of said amplier in balanced relationship with respect to a voltage reference point, and an output connection from said amplier tunable by said switch, said output connection including a condenser connected directly to said amplier.

ROBERT F. ROMERO.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,730,577 Kolster Oct. 8, 1929 1,841,019 Elliott Jan. 12, 1932 1,880,198 Gebhard Oct. 4, 1932 2,009,370 Hansell July 23, 1935 2,069,405 Kramolin Feb. 2, 1937 2,116,696 DeMonge May 1o, 1938 2,180,413 Harvey Nov. 21, 1939 2,206,390 Carlson July 2, 1940 2,209,959 Chittick et al Aug. 6,'.1940 2,213,328 Schaper Sept. 3, 1940 2,250,829 Foster July 29, 1941 2,296,107 Kimball Sept. 15, 1942 2,341,346 Summerhayes Feb. 8, 1944 2,413,451 Johnson Dec. 31, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Radio for December 1936, pages 23-25, Article by R. S. Kruse. 

